In modern converter-dominated power systems, total inertia is very variable and depends on the share of power generated by renewable-based converter-interfaced generation (CIG) at each specific moment. As a result, the limits required by the grid codes on the rate of change of frequency and its nadir or zenith during disturbances become challenging to achieve with conventional control approaches. Therefore, the transition to a novel control strategy of CIG with a grid-forming power converter is relevant. For this purpose, a control algorithm based on a virtual synchronous generator (VSG) is used, which simulates the properties and capabilities of a conventional synchronous generation. However, due to continuously changing operating conditions in converter-dominated power systems, the virtual inertia formed by VSG must be adaptive. At the same time, the efficiency of adaptive algorithms strongly depends on the used VSG structure. In this connection, this paper proposes an enhanced VSG structure for which the transfer function of the active power control loop was formed. With the help of it, the advantages over the conventional VSG structure were proven, which are necessary for the effective adaptive control of the VSG parameters. Then, the analysis of the impact of the VSG parameters on the dynamic response using the transient characteristics in the time domain was performed. Based on the results obtained, adaptive algorithms for independent control of the virtual inertia and the parameters of the VSG damper winding were developed. The performed mathematical modeling confirmed the reliable and effective operation of the developed adaptive control algorithms and the enhanced VSG structure. The theoretical and experimental results obtained in this paper indicate the need for simultaneous development and improvement of both adaptive control algorithms and VSG structures used for this purpose.
3 March 2021 in IEEE Transactions on Power Systems
The transience and unpredictability of processes in electric power systems (EPS) determine complexity of its control. This problem is especially relevant for EPS with renewable energy sources and flexible alternating current transmission systems technologies. Automatic control systems simplify the solution of this problem. Despite this, many issues related to EPS state control are solved by power system operators. Decision support systems (DSS) are applying to increase efficiency of operators work. However, existing algorithms in practice are inoperable in some cases: unrealizable decisions are formed, or decision cannot be found at all, etc. Another important problem is impossibility to preliminarily verify the proposed solution. In this regard, operators can additionally use EPS simulators, which are usually limited either by the size of simulated scheme or by the details of equipment mathematical models. The limitations are a consequence of numerical methods using, which are badly applicable for large-scale power systems simulation. In this article, a novel DSS has been developed based on a hybrid approach to EPS modeling combining properties and capabilities of several simulation techniques: analog, physical and digital. The implicit integration of differential equations in analog way makes possible modeling faster than real time. Such opportunity allows operator to verify more decisions and select the most effective ones. The algorithm for DSS application has been developed and described in the article. The properties and capabilities of the developed DSS are confirmed by experimental studies and tests in a real EPS.